Ausonius, I, Poems 1-17

Ausonius

Translator H. G. Evelyn-White

Ausonius (Decimus Magnus), ca. 310–ca. 395 CE, a doctor's son, was born at Burdigala (Bordeaux). After a good education in grammar and rhetoric and a short period during which he was an advocate, he took to teaching rhetoric in a school which he began in 334. Among his students was Paulinus, who was afterwards Bishop of Nola; and he seems to have become some sort of Christian himself. Thirty years later Ausonius was called by Emperor Valentinian to be tutor to Gratian, who subsequently as emperor conferred on him honours including a consulship in 379. In 383, after Gratian's murder, Ausonius retired to Bordeaux.

Ausonius's surviving works, some with deep feeling, some composed it seems for fun, some didactic, include much poetry: poems about himself and family, notably "The Daily Round"; epitaphs on heroes in the Trojan War, memorials on Roman emperors, and epigrams on various subjects; poems about famous cities and about friends and colleagues. "The Moselle," a description of that river, is among the most admired of his poems. There is also an address of thanks to Gratian for the consulship.

The Loeb Classical Library edition of Ausonius is in two volumes; the second includes Eucharisticus ("Thanksgiving") by Paulinus Pellaeus.

Amb la idea del tòpic del carpe diem horacià (Carm. I 11) el pseudo-Ausoni va reblar amb el collige virgo rosas vitae (De rosis nasc. 47)

POEMA

T’advertia, Gala: envellim. La joventut fuig.

Aprofita la teva primavera: una jove decent és una vella.

Vas menystenir-me: furtivament ha lliscat la vellesa

i no pots tornar a cridar els dies que han passat.

Ara et lamentes i et queixes perquè o aquest desig

no el vas tenir llavors o no tens ara aquell cos.

Dona’m, però, abraçades i els plaers tenalla;

dona’m: que si no gaudeixo el que vull, gaudiré allò que vaig voler.

Ausoni (Traducció de fifthbussines)